Frequently asked questions

Charts > Other methods

House systems are a matter of the personal taste of the
Astrologer. We cannot give advice on this choice. There
is no right or wrong. It's more a matter of experience with
different systems.

Can
I generate a horoscope using the sidereal zodiac?

Yes, you can. Please, choose the zodiac in the respective
drop-down menu in the Extended Chart Selection. We have
numerous types of sidereal zodiac.

Could
you add a new chart technique to the extended chart
selection?

No, we do not tend to add new, specialised techniques. Astrodienst's
free online service is targeted at a wide audience of lay persons
interested in astrology, and at the basic needs of serious astrology
students. The purpose of Astrodienst's web services is not to fulfill
the needs of technically oriented specialists who are interested
in very rare astrological methods.
The selection of various chart types available at Astrodienst reflect
those astrological techniques which have been in use in German-speaking
countries during and after 1980, and they reflect Dr. Treindl's
own interest in astrological studies. He programmed the types of
charts which the customers of Astrodienst's chart services requested
and paid for in the 1980ies (before good astrological PC software
existed), and in addition those techniques which either interested
him personally, or some of his close astrological friends.
We are aware that there exist many other techniques which we do
not offer. Among these are 'precession corrected' (should be called
precession falsified) calculations, and converse progressions, which
are not in use in central Europe. Astrodienst is not expanding its
spread of technical charts at this time - we are concentrating on
other services right now.
Please do not be disappointed if the general answer to such requests
is a simple 'no'. Sometimes there are some hidden treasures in our
rich treasure chest, which can be of use. Just take a stroll around.
There are also excellent software programs on the market which fulfill
most of the technical needs an experienced astrologer may have,
for example Kepler by Cosmic Patterns, and Solar Fire. We highly
recommend that experienced astrologers acquire such software for
their own PC. Macintosh users might want to consult the page of
Kairon software
for free astrological software.

Do
you offer converse progression charts?

For 'converse' secondary progressions, use negative age with offset
from your birth date. In the Extended Chart Selection, select 'progressed
chart' and, if you are, for example, born in 1950 and want converse
progressions for 2002, the age is 52. Using negative age, you ought
to enter the year 1898 as 'start date'

Do
you offer precession correction in transits or solar return
charts?

No we don't. Because we do not consider the method logical and consistent
in itself.
Tropical astrology uses a frame of reference which moves with the
rhythm of the Sun-Moon-Earth system. The technique of "precession
correction" breaks this system trying to introduce a notion
of "natal birth marks in absolute space". This is false
on several levels:
The reference frame it introduces is not absolute, it translates
and rotates with the (fast) movement of the solar system within
the galaxy. A transiting planet does never return to the point
in absolute space where it once was.
The concept of "return charts" and of transits altogether
is - on a deeper level - a symbolic concept rather than a physical
concept. It should therefore be applied in a consistent symbolic
system and not in an inconsistent potpourri of systems.

If you want to get around precession, we recommend to do
"sidereal"
astrology with one of its unprecessed reference frames. We don't
think it makes sense to mix incompatible systems.

Where do I find Antiscia?

For example, in the additional data tables for chart drawing styles
'Munich Rhythms' or 'Studer'.

Can I set
a progressed chart to use SA (solar arcs) in Longitude
method?

No, there is not.
In continental Europe, which is our astrological background, the method of
progression is quite uniform and done the way it is implemented on
astro.com.
The basic and simple rule is:
1 day in the printed ephemeris = 1 year of life

This means that the planets are progressed with their own motion in
longitude
on the ecliptic.
Sidereal time (ARMC) is progressed with 3m56s per day. House cusps are
derived from this progessed ARMC.

However, it is possible to show solar arc progressions next to the
Astrodienst
secondary progressions on the outer circle of the natal chart. To do this,
please go to "Free Horoscopes" -> "Extended Chart Selection" -> "Circular
charts" and select the chart type "Natal, progressions and solar arc
combined" or click here.
The solar arc progressions will be shown in blue around the outer circle.
Do not ignore the additional data
tables, linked on top of the chart. There, look at page 3.

In addition, there is the
Ebertin life diagram:
Solar Arc and the additional data tables that come with it.
It is very useful for those who want to compute events by Solar Arc.

Do you offer
Primary Directions?

Yes, we do, in Extended Chart Selection, Special, near the bottom of the
list, or here. It is
important to consult the additional data tables on top of the
chart.

Primary Directions are a complex subject, somewhat neglected since the
second half of the 20th century.

At the bottom of the primary direction chart is a link "Special options
for primary directions", which explains how different
technical options can be chosen. There is currently no web-interface for
these options, it has do be done
via manipulation of the URL.
To add some special options for primary directions, please
edit the URL in your browser window. Please insert or append the string

&stx2=/opt=val/opt=val... where opt=val pairs are selected from this
list:

As one of the largest astrology portals WWW.ASTRO.COM offers a lot of free features on the subject. With high-quality horoscope interpretations by the world's leading astrologers Liz Greene, Robert Hand and other authors, many free horoscopes and extensive information on astrology for beginners and professionals, www.astro.com is the first address for astrology on the web.